Essex County College announces Edythe Abdullah as new president

Edythe M. Abdullah, in this file photo, today was announced as the next president of Essex County College.ESSEX COUNTY -- The search for a successor to A. Zachary Yamba — New Jersey’s longest-serving college president — has ended with the selection of Edythe Abdullah to lead Essex County College.

The college’s board of trustees today announced that Abdullah, president of the Downtown Campus of Florida State College in Jacksonville, will begin the $225,000-a-year job as the college’s sixth president on April 1.

“This is an exciting time for the college,” said the Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, board chairman. “Dr. Abdullah is a highly qualified and energetic leader who has a wealth of experience to guide the college.”

In November, Adullah emerged as one of three finalists from a pool of 39 applicants, about five of whom hailed from New Jersey. Thirteen candidates were interviewed.

Interviewers quizzed the finalists on how they would deal with the 23,000-student college’s “explosion” in enrollment, the remedial needs of incoming students and the search for funding in a state that ranks 50th in terms of supporting higher education, Jackson said at the time.

Abdullah — who is to become the first woman to lead the college — succeeds Yamba, who is retiring at the age of 70 after a 29-year tenure. He earned $275,276 a year.

“I am just ecstatic about this new journey and this exceptional opportunity to lead an illustrious and respected college that has been an educational anchor for this community for more than 40 years,” said Abdullah, 57.

The other finalists were Darnell E. Cole, former president of Milwaukee Area Technical College; and Valerie R. Roberson, former president of Olive-Harvey College of the City Colleges of Chicago.

Jackson said the Essex board was impressed with Abdullah’s dedication to the community college sector and her leading role in championing an array of partnerships with businesses and local school districts.